Door pivot means



June 23, 1964 J. RUDNICK 3,137,891

DOOR PIVOT MEANS Filed Sept. 1, 1961.

INVENTOR Jack Paanzck BYMW ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,137,891 DOOR PIVOT IVIEANS Jack Rudnick, 225 E. Mosholu Parkway N., Bronx, N.Y. Filed Sept. 1, 1961, Ser. No. 135,675 Claims. (Cl. 16-151) The present invention relates to a vertically adjustable door pivot means and more particularly those adapted for folding doors and especially those folding doors which are adaptable for clothing closets and the like. The problem of pivotably suspending folding doors in such a fashion as to enable their adjustment in height is one which has attracted much efiort and resulted in various types of structures. Unfortunately, most of the structures developed have been cumbersome in the sense that they are diflicult to adjust and expensive and complicated since they entail the assembly of many parts, some of them quite intricate.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of the copending application Serial No. 683,354, filed September 11, 1957, in the name of Jack Rudnick, now Patent Number 3,030,655, issued April 24, 1962.

An object of the present invention is to provide means to pivotably mount a folding door or the like in such fashion as to enable convenient and simple vertical adjustment in height of the door or member.

Another object thereof is the provision of a vertically adjustable door pivot assembly which contains a minimum of parts and yet is simply and effectively adjustable in height.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a durable accurately positionable vertical adjustable means for folding doors and the like.

The above and other objects may be achieved in a preferred form by providing a mounting plate having an aperture therein which may, for example, be affixed to a door saddle, the aperture being coaxial with a cylindrical bore in the saddle and the mounting plate having a depending hollow flanged fitting affixed thereto coaxial with said aperture and extending into said bore, there being a set screw extending inwardly of an inner wall in the depending portion of said fitting, a hollowed cylindrical bearing screw being slidably positioned within said depending portion of said flange, said screw having a lateral longitudinally extending flattened portion thereof which bears against said set screw so as to prevent the rotation of said screw relative said flange and mounting plate, and a nut screwed about said screw so that the bottom portion thereof contacts the top of said mounting plate so that as said nut is rotated said screw is displaced vertically, and a pivot pin affixed to the bottom of a folding door, said pin being insertable in the uppermost opening in said bearing screw. Hence, as said screw is displaced vertically, said door pivoted thereon by means of said pivot pin is likewise displaced vertically.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the present invention may be had by referring to the following detailed description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof, it being understood that the foregoing statement of the objects of the invention and the brief summary thereof is intended to generally explain the same without limiting it in any manner.

Patented June 23, 1964 FIG. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view of a stepped mounting plate for use in connection with a second embodiment thereof, particularly useful when no saddle is employed and the mounting of the pivoting means is mounted directly to the floor.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of said second embodiment said stepped mounting plate being shown in section as along line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified element in accordance with another embodiment of the present intion.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view thereof in assembled condition with a cooperating element.

Referring to the form shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6, the present invention includes a mounting plate 10 aflixed by screws 11 to a saddle 12 which in turn is aflixed over floor 13, said saddle having a cylindrical bore 14. A hollow flanged fitting 15 having an upper collar 15a which fits within a bore 40 in mounting plate 10 is attached to the bottom of mounting plate 10 by rivets 16 and has an unthreaded depending sleeve or shank portion 17 which extends into bore 14. Said shank serves as a guide for a hollow bearing screw 18 which is held slidably mounted within said shank by a matching adjustment nut 19. Bearing screw 18 has a longitudinally extending flatted portion 20 at the bottom of which there is formed a. horizontally extending step 21. In a threaded aperture 22 in shank 17 there is positioned a set screw 23, the inner end of which abuts against, without binding, flatted portion 20 of screw 18, thus permitting the vertical travel of screw 18 but preventing the rotation thereof along its longitudinal axis.

Step 21 serves as a detent ,to prevent the vertical upward travel of screw 18 beyond the position wherein step 21 engages set screw 23. A door 24 is secured to a channel-shaped door support 25 from the lower portion of which there depends a pivot pin 26, said pivot pin being dimensioned to fit within and being positioned within the aperture in the upper portion of bearing screw 18, the upper end of said screw and the confronting lower surfaces of door support 25 comprising the bearing surfaces upon which said door rotates. To the upper end of door 24 there is secured a similar channel-shaped door support 27 from which there extends upwardly coaxial with pivot pin 26, a similar pivot pin 28 journalled in a socket 29 which is secured within a bore, in a support member 30, coaxial with bore 14.

Using the means disclosed a folding door is very simply and accurately positioned within its frame. Thus, bore 14 is first made in saddle 12 and if desired, a larger bore 31 may be superimposed upon the top portion of bore 14, coaxial therewith, so as to permit the positioning of mounting plate 10 flat upon the surface of said saddle, flange fitting 15 lying within said bores and screws 11 securing said mounting plate thereto. If it is so desired, elongated apertures 32 in mounting plate 10 may be employed to temporarily mount said plate to said saddle so as to be horizontally adjustable parallel with a side structure such as door jamb 33. Door 24 may then be swiftly and easily positioned by inserting pivot pins 26 and 28 in bearing screw 18 and socket 29 respectively. The door may then be adjusted vertically by rotating nut 19. Since bearing screw 20 is held from rotating relative to mounting plate 10 and nut 19 by means of the engagement of the inner end of set screw 23 with the flatted portion 20 of said screw, the adjustment in height, once made, will not be disturbed when the door is pivoted uponits mount.

A second embodiment which is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is employed wherein the door opening is not bordered on the bottom by a saddle but by the floor. In such case, in lieu of mounting plate there is employed a stepped mounting plate 34 comprising two horizontal panels 35 and 36 connected by a vertical panel 37, horizontal panel 35 having an aperture 38 therein. Mounting plate 34 is secured by screws 39 directly to floor 13, the balance of the assembly, including flanged fitting 15, bearing screw 18, adjustment nut 19, channel member 25, door 24 and the like, all being identical with the form previously described.

The mounting of a door when employing this embodiment of the invention, is self-evident.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawing there is illustrated a modification of the subject structure which differs from those earlier described only in the construction in the flanged fitting 41 which may be advantageously employed in place of the flanged fitting 15. Specifically the fitting 41 includes a tubular shank or sleeve 42 having a vertical bore43 of substantially D-shaped transverse cross section and provided with a longitudinally extending flat face 44. A peripheral flange 45 is disposed in the sleeve 42 below the top thereof which delineates an upper section 46 of the sleeve 42 above the flange 45. The sleeve upper section 46 registers with the opening 40 formed in the mounting plate10 or the corresponding Opening formed in the panel 35 of the mounting plate 34. The flange 45 underlies the plate 10 or panel 35 and is secured thereto by rivets 16 as earlier described. The bearing screw 18 registers with the sleeve bore 43 the flatted portion 20 thereof closely confronting the flat face 44 of the sleeve bore 43 to prevent relative rotation of the bearing screw 18 and the sleeve 41 while permitting relative axial movement therebetween. The nut 19 engages the upper section of the bearing screw 18 which projects above the sleeve 41 and the operation and adjustment of the assembly and its cooperation with the other components are as earlier described. In the present construction the screw 23 and the tapped radial bore 22 are obviated.

Of course, many variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, bearing screw 18 need not be hollow completely along its length, but may bear a depression only in its upper end to form a bearing for pivot pin 26. Again, a flanged fitting is not essential if the aperture 40 in mounting plate 10 is shaped in a manner corresponding to the cross-section of bearing screw 18 as shown in FIG. 6, since in some forms of the present invention in which the supported doors are of light construction, such a feature is eminently suitable.

So, too, set screw 23 need not be an adjustable screw but there may be substituted therefor a fixed rivet or a fixed pin extending inwardly into shank 17.

Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous variations may be employed without transcending the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Door pivot means to enable the vertical positioning of a door relative to the floor over which it is horizontally-pivotably hung by means including a pivot pin depending therefrom, comprising a stepped mounting plate including upper and lower horizontal panels connected by a vertical panel, said upper horizontal panel having an aperture therethrough, a hollow fitting fixedly secured to said plate having a sleeve portion extending from said aperture coaxially therewith, a bearing screw having a recess in the upper end thereof dimensioned to receive said pin and slidably positioned within said sleeve, and extending above and below the same, a nut engaging said bearing screw above said upper panel and having a lower surface abutting the upper surface of said upper panel, said screw having a vertically-extending external flattened section thereof, a detent member mounted in the wall of said sleeve portion and extending inwardly thereof the inner end of said detent member abutting said flattened section of said screw to prevent rotation thereof relative said plate whereby upon rotating said nut, said screw is vertically displaced.

2. Door pivot means as described in claim 1, the bottom of said flattened section ending in a step in the external wall of said screw, the top of said step being positioned to engage said detent member after a predetermined amount of upward travel of said screw, thereby cooperating with said detent member to provide an upper limit detent for said screw.

3. Door pivot means to enable the vertical positioning of a door relative to the floor to which it is pivotally connected by means including a pivot pin comprising a mounting plate horizontally connected to a floor, said plate having an aperture therein, a sleeve fixedly connected to said plate and extending vertically normally downward therefrom, said sleeve being coaxial with said aperture, a bearing screw mounted for reciprocable vertical travel within said sleeve, and extending on either side thereof, the upper end of said screw being recessed to form a bearing socket dimensioned to receive said pivot pin, and a nut engaging said bearing screw above said plate, said screw having a longitudinally-extending external flattened portion, said sleeve having an internal D-shaped cross-section throughout the portions thereof over which said flattened portion extends, said flattened portion of said bearing screw being positioned opposite: the linear wall of said sleeve whereby as said nut is. rotated said bearing screw and said door pivoted thereon are vertically displaced relative to said mounting plate and the floor to which said plate is connected.

4. Door pivot means to enable the vertical positioningof a door relative to the floor to which it is pivotally connected by means including a pivot pin depending there-- from, comprising a stepped mounting plate connected to: the floor and including upper and lower horizontal panels connected by a vertical panel, said upper panel havingan aperture therethrough, a sleeve fixedly connected to. said upper panel and extending vertically normally down ward therefrom, said sleeve being coaxial with said aper ture, a bearing screw mounted for reciprocable vertical travel within said sleeve, and extending on either side. thereof, the upper end of said screw being recessed tov form a bearing socket dimensioned to receive said pivot. pin, and a nut engaging said bearing screw above said. plate, said screw having a longitudinally-extending external flattened portion, said sleeve having an internal D-shaped cross-section throughout the portions thereof over which said flattened portion extends, said flattened portion of said bearing screw being positioned opposite the linear wall of said sleeve whereby as said nut is rotated said bearing screw and said door pivoted thereon are vertically displaced relative to said mounting plate. and the floor to which said plate is connected.

5. Door pivot means to enable the vertical positioning, of a door relative to the floor to which it is pivotally connected by means including a pivot pin depending. therefrom, comprising a stepped mounting plate connected to the floor and including upper and lower horizontal panels connected by a vertical panel, said upper panel having an aperture therethrough, a sleeve fixedly connected to said upper panel and extending vertically normally downward therefrom, said sleeve being coaxial with said aperture, a bearing screw mounted for reciprocable vertical travel within said sleeve, and extending on either side thereof, the upper end of said screw being recessed to form a bearing socket dimensioned to receive said pivot pin, a nut engaging said bearing screw above said plate, said screw having a longitudinally-extending external flattened portion, and detent means connected to said sleeve and abutting against said flattened portion of said screw to prevent rotation thereof relative to said plate, whereby as said nut is rotated said bearing screw and said door pivoted thereon are vertically displaced relative said mounting plate and the floor to which said plate is connected, the upper end of said screw being recessed to a distance greater than the length of said pivot pin whereby said door bears upon the upper surface of said screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. DOOR PIVOT MEANS TO ENABLE THE VERTICAL POSITIONING OF A DOOR RELATIVE TO THE FLOOR OVER WHICH IT IS HORIZONTALLY-PIVOTABLY HUNG BY MEANS INCLUDING A PIVOT PIN DEPENDING THEREFROM, COMPRISING A STEPPED MOUNTING PLATE INCLUDING UPPER AND LOWER HORIZONTAL PANELS CONNECTED BY A VERTICAL PANEL, SAID UPPER HORIZONTAL PANEL HAVING AN APERTURE THERETHROUGH, A HOLLOW FITTING FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID PLATE HAVING A SLEEVE PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID APERTURE COAXIALLY THEREWITH, A BEARING SCREW HAVING A RECESS IN THE UPPER END THEREOF DIMENSIONED TO RECEIVE SAID PIN AND SLIDABLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID SLEEVE, AND EXTENDING ABOVE AND BELOW THE SAME, A NUT ENGAGING SAID BEARING SCREW ABOVE SAID UPPER PANEL AND HAVING A LOWER SURFACE ABUTTING THE UPPER SURFACE OF SAID UPPER PANEL, SAID SCREW HAVING A VERTICALLY-EXTENDING EXTERNAL FLATTENED SECTION THEREOF, A DETENT MEMBER MOUNTED IN THE WALL OF SAID SLEEVE PORTION AND EXTENDING INWARDLY THEREOF THE INNER END OF SAID DETENT MEMBER ABUTTING SAID FLATTENED SECTION OF SAID SCREW TO PREVENT ROTATION THEREOF RELATIVE SAID PLATE WHEREBY UPON ROTATING SAID NUT, SAID SCREW IS VERTICALLY DISPLACED. 